VERSE STUDY • KJV

Genesis 29:23-30

²³ And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. ²⁴ And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid [for] an handmaid. ²⁵ And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it [was] Leah: and he said to Laban, What [is] this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me? ²⁶ And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. ²⁷ Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. ²⁸ And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. ²⁹ And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid. ³⁰ And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

Read it in 5 translations

KJV King James Version

²³ And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. ²⁴ And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid [for] an handmaid. ²⁵ And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it [was] Leah: and he said to Laban, What [is] this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me? ²⁶ And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. ²⁷ Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. ²⁸ And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. ²⁹ And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid. ³⁰ And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

BSB Berean Standard Bible

²³ But when evening came, Laban took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and he slept with her. ²⁴ And Laban gave his servant girl Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her maidservant. ²⁵ When morning came, there was Leah! “What have you done to me?” Jacob said to Laban. “Wasn’t it for Rachel that I served you? Why have you deceived me?” ²⁶ Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older. ²⁷ Finish this week’s celebration, and we will give you the younger one in return for another seven years of work.” ²⁸ And Jacob did just that. He finished the week’s celebration, and Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife. ²⁹ Laban also gave his servant girl Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maidservant. ³⁰ Jacob slept with Rachel as well, and indeed, he loved Rachel more than Leah. So he worked for Laban another seven years.

WEB World English Bible

²³ It happened in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him. He went in to her. ²⁴ Laban gave Zilpah his handmaid to his daughter Leah for a handmaid. ²⁵ It happened in the morning that, behold, it was Leah. He said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Didn’t I serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?” ²⁶ Laban said, “It is not done so in our place, to give the younger before the firstborn. ²⁷ Fulfill the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you will serve with me yet seven other years.” ²⁸ Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week. He gave him Rachel his daughter as wife. ²⁹ Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah, his handmaid, to be her handmaid. ³⁰ He went in also to Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

ASV American Standard Version

²³ And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. ²⁴ And Laban gave Zilpah his handmaid unto his daughter Leah for a handmaid. ²⁵ And it came to pass in the morning that, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me? ²⁶ And Laban said, It is not so done in our place, to give the younger before the first-born. ²⁷ Fulfil the week of this one, and we will give thee the other also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. ²⁸ And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife. ²⁹ And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her handmaid. ³⁰ And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

YLT Young’s Literal Translation

²³ And it cometh to pass in the evening, that he taketh Leah, his daughter, and bringeth her in unto him, and he goeth in unto her; ²⁴ and Laban giveth to her Zilpah, his maid-servant, to Leah his daughter, a maid-servant. ²⁵ And it cometh to pass in the morning, that lo, it is Leah; and he saith unto Laban, ‘What is this thou hast done to me? for Rachel have I not served with thee? and why hast thou deceived me?’ ²⁶ And Laban saith, ‘It is not done so in our place, to give the younger before the first-born; ²⁷ fulfil the week of this one, and we give to thee also this one, for the service which thou dost serve with me yet seven other years.’ ²⁸ And Jacob doth so, and fulfilleth the week of this one, and he giveth to him Rachel his daughter, to him for a wife; ²⁹ and Laban giveth to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his maid-servant, for a maid-servant to her. ³⁰ And he goeth in also unto Rachel, and he also loveth Rachel more than Leah; and he serveth with him yet seven other years.

Surrounding context — Genesis 29

20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him [but] a few days, for the love he had to her.

21 And Jacob said unto Laban, Give [me] my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.

22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.

23 And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.

24 And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid [for] an handmaid.

25 And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it [was] Leah: and he said to Laban, What [is] this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?

26 And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.

27 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.

28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.

29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.

30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

31 And when the LORD saw that Leah [was] hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel [was] barren.

32 And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.

33 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I [was] hated, he hath therefore given me this [son] also: and she called his name Simeon.

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HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION

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